Officials break ground on road project near Natick Labs

Monday

Jun 16, 2014 at 5:22 PMJun 16, 2014 at 5:22 PM

By Brian BensonDaily News Staff

NATICK – One of the first questions Natick Soldier Systems Center workers asked Brig. Gen. William Cole at his first town hall meeting as senior commander of the U.S. Army base was when Kansas Street would be improved."Well, ladies and gentlemen, finally we can say that that day has arrived," Cole told several dozen people gathered outside the base by the intersection of Kansas Street and Rte. 27 Monday.Though Cole has only been at Natick since December, he said efforts to improve the bumpy road have been ongoing for several years. Cole, speaking at the groundbreaking for the $2.5 million Kansas Street project, thanked state and town leaders on behalf of the base’s workforce and their cars.The state-funded and town-run project will repave Kansas Street, improve intersections (including the Rte. 27/Kansas Street intersection), enhance drainage, create a new water main and create a new multi-use path. Work is expected to begin next month and last about a year.Speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony praised collaboration between town and state agencies and the base to bring the project to fruition."This shows the power of partnerships," said state Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland. "By working together we can accomplish so much and we have."State Rep. David Linsky, D-Natick, said this is one of several state-funded road projects in Natick, a testament to the importance of the gas tax as a revenue source. The Rte. 9/Oak Street project is under construction and the Marion Street bridge project is under design, he said.Speakers said the Kansas Street work will benefit the base, Natick and the region’s economy by enhancing a road that leads to the installation and nearby housing and improving traffic flow along busy Rte. 27.Natick Soldier Systems Center’s operations and procurement activities contributed more than $4.4 billion to the state economy in fiscal 2011, a number that has likely grown since then, said Marty Jones, president and CEO of MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency which has worked on initiatives related to military facilities in the Bay State.Jones said Kansas Street "provides access to an invaluable resource that empowers, equips and feeds war fighters who defend our freedom."Selectmen Chairman Josh Ostroff said the project shows Gov. Deval Patrick’s commitment to the base and the people who work there and demonstrates the value of collaboration between local, state and federal government."This is an approach that works," Paul Matthews, executive director of the 495/MetroWest Partnership, said of working together. "It has worked here. It will continue to work."Brian Benson can be reached at 508-626-3964 or bbenson@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @bbensonmwdn.

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